Northeast Ohio stars in Kent State football recruiting class

KENT — Record-setting quarterback Dru DeShields of West Branch High School is among 12 players to sign with the Kent State football program and its new head coach Kenni Burns during the NCAA early signing window.

All 12 are high school seniors and DeShields is one of four from Northeast Ohio to sign with the Golden Flashes. The others are Akron East defensive lineman Antonio Bascomb, Massillon defensive back Freddie Lenix Jr., and North Olmsted receiver/running back Jared Kelley.

DeShields accounted for 62 touchdowns as a senior, including 46 passing, as he threw for 3,932 yards. He finished his career with 7,834 passing yards and 90 TD passes.

Bascomb earned All-Akron City Series honors as a senior. Lenix helped Massillon reach the state semifinals this season and the regional final last year. Kelley gained 1,571 rushing yards and 792 receiving yards in totaling 30 TDs as a senior

The early signing class also features Virginia’s state defensive player of the year in Division II, Kaden Beatty. He helped Atlantic Shores Christian win a state title his junior year before making 65 tackles for loss and forcing seven fumbles as a senior.

It also features seven other out-of-state players:

• Defensive back Joel Boamah and running back Marques Hicks from New Jersey;
• Offensive lineman Evan Cooke from Maryland;
• Wide receiver Dash Dorsey and offensive lineman Chris Farrell from Illinois;
• Tight end Peyton Faulkner from Pennsylvania;
• Offensive lineman Andrew Page from Indiana.

The Golden Flashes will announce their full signing class after the traditional NCAA national signing day, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023.

Here is a brief look at each of the 12 early signees with Kent:

Antonio Bascomb, 6-3, 280, DL

Akron East

All-Akron City Series defensive lineman for East High School. … Helped the Dragons go 4-1 in City Series play and allow only 39 points in those five games.